Columbus is the first town in North Carolina that one comes to when driving north on I-26 from Charleston or the South Carolina beaches. It is a pleasant little community though the choices for either lodging or food leave a great deal to be desired. An exception to that statement is the town’s Days Inn which sits high on a pretty hillock surrounded by trees and completely cut off from the hustle and bustle of either the freeway or the many fast food restaurants that abound on seemingly every corner. There are no king- or queen-bedded rooms but the two double beds that we had in our room were comfortable and very restful. There are also no refrigerators—a seeming standard in motels across the country these days—and the Quick Start breakfast offers little more than cold cereal, doughnuts, and coffee. The very thoughtful staff is, however, quite anxious to please. There are few luxuries to be found at this Days Inn—indeed, at most Days Inns—but most folks don’t stop at one for that reason and probably no one will be displeased who chooses the Columbus location which, the day we were there, was packed with tourists off of the Interstate.